The internationally respected experts at the Institute of Medicine recommended that covering these preventive services without imposing cost barriers would significantly improve women’s health. They recognized that women have particular health needs and that making sure women can get the care we need will affect the overall well-being of our families and communities.

And the Affordable Care Act acts on that expert advice, making health care more affordable for women and our families by requiring insurance companies to cover women’s preventive health services without additional charges, like co-pays and deductibles. Starting in the fall of 2010, all new health plans already began covering mammograms, screenings for cervical cancer and other important preventive health services at no additional cost. As soon as August 2012, the same requirement will be expanded to include the services, listed above.